POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a robbery in which a couple were pulled into the back of a van in broad daylight.

A man and woman were pulled into a people carrier, believed to be a seven seater, and the man was beaten up before both were later kicked out into a Westcliff street.

The attack happened when a man and a woman were walking together along Coleman Street, Southend, at 11am on Monday, November 28.

A people carrier pulled up alongside them and several men forced the couple into the vehicle.

They were then driven around the local area and the man kicked out of the vehicle in Station Road, Westcliff, 30 minutes later.

The woman was also turfed out of the people carrier further along the road.

The woman was left shaken and the man, who was beaten up and hit with a weapon of some sort, was left with cuts and bruises to his face and chest.

He also had his mobile phone stolen.

Det Con Lucy Bowman, said one of the attackers was hanging out of the car, trying to close a door, while it was moving and someone must have seen the dark coloured people carrier, which had tinted windows.

The four attackers are described as black and in their 20s, with three being about 6ft tall and one considerably shorter.

One of the taller men has a gold tooth while one of the others has two scars on his face.

Anyone with information should call detectives at Southend police station on 101.

* An 18-year-old woman was arrested the following day in connection with the incident and has been bailed until February 16.